]]>Tourism Vancouver should think about hiring the Hayward family of Ashburn, Virginia.

Todd Hayward’s video travelogue of his family’s trip to Vancouver for the FIFA Women’s World Cup sells our city as well as any professionally produce promo video ever could.

The footage is stunning.

Using just a GoPro and a stabilizer, Hayward captured his soccer-loving family — wife Priscilla and daughters Avery and Audrey — exploring downtown, Yaletown, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Stanley Park, Lynn Canyon, Queen Elizabeth Park, Granville Island, English Bay, Coal Harbor, Cypress Mountain, and, of course, BC Place, where they watched the U.S. national team beat Nigeria 1-0 on June 16.

They packed all that into a five-day trip.

“We make a habit out of getting up in the really early hours to get to places before anybody else,” said Todd. “We go all day until we crash at night.”

“We had been to Vancouver a couple of times in the past, it’s one of the few cities we don’t mind going to over and over again. Both of our daughters play soccer and we are big soccer fans, so when we found out one of the (Team USA) games was there that was our excuse for going back,” said Todd Hayward. “People out east have no concept about all the great things there are to do in Vancouver.”

We have always told people how awesome Vancouver is, but photos have never really done it justice. Now we show our friends that video and they are like ‘Oh my god, that looks insane.’ I think you are going to be seeing some of our friends out there now.

More than 53,000 fans, most of them Americans, filled BC Place for the Group D game against Nigeria.

Team USA plays China in the World Cup quarter-final today (4:30 p.m. on CTV) in Ottawa. The team could return to Vancouver again — and bring with it another invasion of U.S. fans — if it advances to the championship game on July 5.

Filed under: Now, STAFF Tagged: Africa, Avery, B.C. Place, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Cypress Mountain, English Bay, FIFA World Cup, Granville Island, Hayward, Lynn Canyon, Nigeria, Queen Elizabeth Park, Stanley Park (Vancouver), Team USA, Todd Hayward, Tourism Vancouver, United States, Vancouver, Virginia, West Africa]]>http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2015/06/26/womens-world-cup-u-s-fans-produce-stunning-vancouver-travel-video/feed/0vancouver2skottbrownVancouverCypress Mountain with 60 friendshttp://blogs.vancouversun.com/2013/08/12/cypress-mountain-with-60-friends/
http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2013/08/12/cypress-mountain-with-60-friends/#commentsMon, 12 Aug 2013 18:46:16 +0000http://blogs.vancouversun.com/?p=131896Yesterday, the MyFirstFondo members ascended one of the “bucket list” local mountains, Cypress, a great preparation for the RBC Whistler GranFondo. For most of the participants, it was their first time up this mountain. We met at 7:30AM at the Information booth as Stanley Park for a briefing by Lara Penno, clinic coordinator, and to split into 5 groups with ride leaders for each group. I led Group 4, which was a real mix of ...]]>Yesterday, the MyFirstFondo members ascended one of the “bucket list” local mountains, Cypress, a great preparation for the RBC Whistler GranFondo. For most of the participants, it was their first time up this mountain. We met at 7:30AM at the Information booth as Stanley Park for a briefing by Lara Penno, clinic coordinator, and to split into 5 groups with ride leaders for each group. I led Group 4, which was a real mix of younger and as you will see, super seniors.

The weather was cool, with no hint of the deluge to come.

I last did the RBC Whistler GranFondo in 2010, and had forgotten what Taylor Way was like, and the first section of the highway as well. Nevertheless, nice and steady had everyone reaching the next meeting point, the Mulgrave School entrance, without any difficulty.

The first two kilometres going up Cypress are flat, allowing the riders to get into a bit of rhythm. Once the climbing started, everyone focused but we were still able to chat. When we reached the first lookout at 5K for a brief stop, I advised the riders that they had done more than a third of the climbing as there was only 7.5K of uphill left.

During the ride, gaps opened, and I was riding with the leaders of my group, Nancy and Norm, while Jen Phu accompanied the rest of the pack. I jokingly asked Norm when he was turning 40. He replied “That was 37 years ago” Yes, you heard that right, at 77 he was biking up Cypress in preparation for the RBC Whistler GranFondo!

We all reached the end of the ride at the Downhill Skiing area to refuel at the GranFondo van and prepare for the descent. Did I mention deluge? Yes, pouring rain and wind made for a teeth chattering descent. Once we regrouped at the Mulgrave school, the weather was a bit more tolerable as we made our way back to Vancouver. I can assure you that I was as pumped about all the people that successfully completed their first Cypress climb as I was with my first ascent. It will be interesting to hear the clinic members feedback at next Wednesdays session.

Helly Hansen, the highly acclaimed outdoor clothing company, known for making outdoor gear that can withstand the torrential rain deluges of Tofino to the intense coast mountain snowstorms at Cypress Mountain, has a mountain battle for you.

The Helly Hansen Big Mountain Battle returns this year following a successful winter last year which saw droves of participants challenge the steepest slopes, biggest terrain and most snow in North America. With stops at ...

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Big Mountain Battle

By Powder Matt

Helly Hansen, the highly acclaimed outdoor clothing company, known for making outdoor gear that can withstand the torrential rain deluges of Tofino to the intense coast mountain snowstorms at Cypress Mountain, has a mountain battle for you.

The Helly Hansen Big Mountain Battle returns this year following a successful winter last year which saw droves of participants challenge the steepest slopes, biggest terrain and most snow in North America. With stops at ski resorts known to test the limits, like Squaw Valley, California, Taos, New Mexico, Aspen, Colorado and Stevens Pass, Washington. Helly Hansen chose in Canada only two resorts which met their Big Mountain guidelines, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and Fernie Alpine Resort, both located on the Powder Highway of British Columbia.

This is the only event in North America where you go head to head against the Ski Patrol at each ski resort. The Ski Patrol know their home mountain better than anyone so this event will truly crown the best of North America’s Big Mountain skiers!

Are you up for the challenge? Don’t miss Fernie Alpine Resort, February 11th and Kickinghorse Mountain Resort, March 24th. Visit www.BigMountainBattle.comfor more details.